ENPARD Georgia's Breakthrough in Agriculture and Rural Development - EU for Georgia
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ENPARD
Georgia’s Breakthrough in Agriculture
and Rural Development
2020
Author: Maia Chitaia
Editor: Tamar Khuntsaria
Design: Mariam Morchiladze
ENPARD Communications Unit
Action Global Communications Georgia
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European
Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Action
Global Communications and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the
European Union.
ENPARD
Georgia’s Breakthrough in
Agriculture and Rural Development
Improving Agriculture
Promoting Rural Development
Boosting Food Safety Standards
Increasing Export Potential
“We are delighted to be long-standing contributors
to Georgia’s progress in agriculture and rural devel-
opment and we look forward to continue working
together with the Government, stakeholders and
partners to improve living conditions and employ-
ment possibilities for the rural population in Georgia.
Our objective is to empower local people to take the
development of their communities into their own
hands,” – Carl Hartzell, Ambassador of the European
Union to Georgia.
“Agriculture and rural development stand high on the
Government’s agenda given their social, political and
economic significance. The Government’s work to
revitalize the country’s rural areas are well supported
by external aid. With EU assistance, under the ENPARD
programme, Georgia has introduced a new vision in
agriculture and rural development grounded on the
best EU practices in this field. In the next years to come,
we will continue to focus on increasing agricultural
competitiveness and promoting local entrepreneur-
ship, which will help improve employment and liveli-
hood in rural areas,” - Levan Davitashvili, Minister of
Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.
2
Background
Agriculture has operated as a central Under the EU-Georgia Association Agree-
thread inside Georgia’s economic and ment, Georgia is committed to promoting
social fabric, for centuries. Having played agricultural and rural development,
an important role throughout the forma- especially via the adoption of a progres-
tion of Georgia’s statehood, it has also sive attitude – and is practically helping
largely contributed to its economic the country converge toward EU policies
growth. The sector, hit hard by the and legislation; including sharing knowl-
breakup of the USSR in the early 90s, has edge and best practice in rural develop-
been steadily developing across the coun- ment, in promoting economic well-being
try in recent years. for rural communities and in enhancing
central and local administrations. The
Given that the agricultural and rural devel- Georgian government’s commitment to
opment sectors occupy a key role in revitalising agriculture is largely demon-
boosting employment, reducing poverty strated by efforts made to increase
and strengthening the country - reinvigor- relevant national expenditure, and apply-
ating the sector is now, more than ever, of ing swift structural and legislative reforms.
particular importance. The Association The EU has been supporting the sector by
Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the way of the European Neighbourhood
European Union (EU) signed during June Programme for Agriculture and Rural
2014, has notably also fully entered into Development (ENPARD) since 2013.
force. And the Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Area (DCFTA) has opened a
potentially lucrative 500 million European
consumer market door to Georgian prod-
ucts.
ENPARD has proven itself groundbreaking for Georgia-EU relations. The programme operates
as a means of multi-dimensional support from the European Union to Georgia. One that helps
the country focus toward European standards and quality of life through:
Capacity building of the government institutions involved in agriculture
and rural development.
Improved employment and living conditions of rural populations with
stronger farmers’ cooperation, enhanced production quality and stand-
ards, and access to resources.
The promotion of diversified social and economic opportunities in rural
areas, particularly for women and youth, all the while placing the environ-
ment and cultural heritage at the centre.
3
The total budget of the programme,
covering the period of 2013-2022 is
€179.5 million
≈ GEL 587 million
ENPARD I ENPARD III
ENPARD II
€ 52 million € 77.5 million
(≈ GEL 170 million) (≈ GEL 253 million)
EU launched
€ 50 million In 2018, the third
the ENPARD (≈ GEL 163 million) phase was launched
programme in to further enhance
2013 with the From 2016, the competitiveness of
aim to increase second phase of agriculture, improve
agricultural com- ENPARD was livelihood in rural
petitiveness and launched to widen areas and support
reduce rural and deepen the environment
poverty in Georgia. agricultural and protection and
rural development sustainable
measures initiated management of
under the first natural resources.
phase.
4
ENPARD I (2014-2017)
Origins and Early Achievements
After emerging from the Soviet Union as an independent state, Georgia lacked
clear vision for its development. This particular developmental absence ultimately
included the most crucial sector for economic empowerment and self-sustainabili-
ty; agriculture. As part of a newly formed nation, where 53% of employed people
made up the agricultural set-up, and with more than 70% of agricultural product
imports (Oxfam), the sector’s development was proving ineffective and essentially
lacked direction, goals and a clear strategy.
In this context, a key ENPARD programme goal was to help Georgia adopt and
implement a sectoral policy based on the most effective European and internation-
al experiences and practices. Hence, in 2015, with the financial support of the EU
(under ENPARD) in addition to technical assistance programmes undertaken by
international organisations such as FAO and the UNDP - the Georgian Government
officially adopted its first Strategy of Agriculture of Georgia (2015-2020) placing the
following main priorities of the sector’s development at the centre of its rationale:
Empowering Farmers
Imposing the Mechanisms for Legislative Development
Institutional Enhancement and Capacity Building
5
Empowering Farmers Through:
Strengthening cooperation of small farmers to increase production and
achieve economies of scale by establishing business-oriented cooperation
forms, such as small farmers’ cooperatives;
Establishing 59 district level Information and Consultation Centres (ICCs) to
provide information, advice and training to farmers on best practices, new
technologies, and demand/supply on both national and international
markets.
Initial Challenges:
Large scale and voluntary cooperative-based
agriculture is the norm in Europe, which helps
Small plots and individual pool knowledge, and reduce equipment and
farmers; supply costs for farmers. In Georgia, on the other
hand, farming takes place on small plots where
High costs; each farmer works individually, yielding higher
Low production. costs and more risk. With the launch of ENPARD,
the EU has helped Georgian farmers benefit
from European experiences by introducing
tactics that help boost economies of scale and
minimise agriculturally related expenditures.
6
Key Achivements:
ENPARD COOPERATIVES STRENGTHEN FARMERS ACROSS GEORGIA
Since the introduction of ENPARD in 2014:
15,000 farmers
registered in 1500 cooperatives
250,000
people
have received advice
on farming
through 59 Information
and Consultation
Centers
2,000 More than
8,000 farmers
farmers received EU-funded
in over 280 cooperatives training on agriculture
and business management
direct EU funding
Studies on ENPARD cooperatives show:
30% 100%
37% 53%
2014 2017 2014 2017
Cooperatives have Cooperatives have Cooperatives’ Over a half of cooperative
increased their increased their EMPLOYMENT members and employees
NET INCOME PRODUCTION VALUE more than doubled are WOMEN
* ENPARD implementing partner organisations: Oxfam, Mercy Corps, People in Need,
CARE International, UNDP Georgia.
7
ENPARD Spotlight
Cooperative “Alaznistavi”
“Our product is in high demand
and we no longer find it difficult
to sell” - EU-supported Guda
Cheese cooperative.
Paata Abulidze is the head of agricultural cooperative ‘Alazni-
stavi’. In 2015, with the help of EU funds, Paata established a
cooperative in Alaznistavi, located approximately 2,100
metres above sea level, in Alaznistavi, in the northeast region
of Tusheti.
Today the cooperative comprises 11 members. The European
Union allocated grant assistance worth more than 98,500
GEL to the cooperative. In partnership with Oxfam, Paata’s
cheese-production factory was built for the cooperative with
lighting and heating systems that are in complete compli-
ance with EU Standards. The cooperative members under-
went training sessions organised by Oxfam and Biological
Farming Association ELKANA, which ultimately helped them
achieve better management, results and impact across their
business.
As a result, the tradition of Guda Cheese production revived
in Tusheti.
8ENPARD Spotlight
“Our cooperative members are responsible for taking care of the livestock,
dairy production and for firewood assembly. The chief responsibility is given to
the head herdsman, who is an experienced specialist, and whose role it is to
manage the production of cheese and supervise the milking of sheep. An
additional manager at the cooperative manages the production of cottage
cheese. Other staff members clean the stalls where the sheep are milked, they
are responsible for firewood, bake bread and cook, and so forth. Every member
of the cooperative has their area of expertise, but at the same time each one of
them is capable and ready to work collectively and interdependently”, Paata
says.
The fact that suppliers, producers and sellers are united under a single
business, gives the “Alaznistavi” cooperative a large advantage. After one year
of the cooperative establishment, the average profit per member has more
than doubled.
The only possible location for the production of Guda Cheese is Tusheti. The
village’s distinctness goes back to its medieval origins and rock-dwellings, not
to mention a certain species of grass that grows only there - and importantly
the temperature differences from night and day-time are minimal. Each of
these factors lead to first-rate quality cheese production. Tusheti’s prime
location gears it with all the conditions needed to produce the most authentic
Tushetian Guda cheese. Already bolstered by an EU endorsed and strictly
certified Geographic Indication Certification - the cooperative is on course to
being handed all quality labels it requires to become an export-ready product.
9ENPARD Spotlight
Cooperative “Nagomari”
“Over half of the cooperative
members are women. We
have already doubled our land
and expanded our factory in
the last three years.” –
EU-supported tea cooperative
“Nagomari”.
The agricultural cooperative, Nagomari, was formed in December 2015.
Soon after registration, Nagomari received EU Support via the ENPARD
programme that allowed it to purchase equipment for the production of
black and green tea and the rehabilitation of unused tea fields.
“With the project we realised how important is the cooperation and
especially, connecting and working with solid, dependable partners and
interested stakeholders”, - the head of cooperative, Nana Kirmelashvili says.
This merely marks the beginning of the process. The cooperative plans to
strengthen tea culture in the village and is convinced that rehabilitation will
result in increased production in the coming years. Nagomari has already
employed a staggering 35 households throughout the rehabilitation
process, across a single season. Now, people in the village have found the
motivation to work in the tea sector and to further engage in the rehabilita-
tion process. The cooperative is eager, motivated and enthusiastic when it
comes to sharing its experiences. The main challenge for Nagomari is to
upgrade its factory premises in close line with EU standards which will
enable them to produce in safely and efficiently resulting in quality outputs.
For this they count on garnering more support and resources.
10In addition, ENPARD I envisaged the achievement
of concrete results across the following areas:
Improved efficiency of institutions involved in agriculture,
including capacity building to the Ministry of Environment
Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) and the Agricul-
tural Cooperatives Development Agency (ACDA) and the Minis-
try of Agriculture of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;
Regulated and developed geographical indications;
Improved employment and living conditions in rural areas.
Supporting the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture
. through Imposing the Mechanisms for the Legislative Development
With the support of the EU’s ENPARD programme, the Ministry of Environmental
Protection and Agriculture and its line agencies have improved their performanc-
es and adopted key pieces of legislation to enhance agricultural competitiveness:
Key Achivements
11Key Achivements:
Introducing the Mechanisms for
Legislative Development
Law on Agricultural Law on Appellation of origin
Cooperatives Development and Geographical Indication
To strengthen management capaci- A product with appellation of origin
ty and instate proper governance at and geographical indication
registered cooperatives. features a unique taste and physical
qualities and demonstrates exclusiv-
To improve understanding among ity due to its production in a specific
cooperative members on the defini- natural environment – rendering it
tion and purposes of cooperative both outstanding and highly valua-
enterprises, and an increased sense ble. The Law has helped:
of ownership of their cooperatives.
To establish a verification of a
product based on its origin.
To better manage the finances and
benefits of business-oriented coop-
To develop the list of products
eratives.
with the potential of Geographi-
cal Identification branding.
To enhance potential for
agro-tourism and export to
European market.
Law on Seed certification
FAO initiated several activities to support
To develop and adopt a seed the establishment of a seed certification
certification system that considers system. One of these activities involved
one of the essential pillars for several seed producers in a Voluntary
enhancing seed production. Certification System. The participants
were challenged to produce certified
To improve agricultural productiv- seed materials for the 2015-2016 season.
ity in Georgia. As a result, productivity increased by 30%.
12Key Achivements:
Institutional Enhancement and
Capacity Building
Inter-Ministerial
Policy Unit Coordination Board
Establishment of a Policy Unit under
the Ministry of Environmental Protec-
tion and Agriculture (MEPA) of Geor- Establishment of Inter-Ministerial
gia that elaborates, oversees and Coordination Board led by MEPA to
monitors the implementation of the ensure the consolidated sectorial
sector`s development strategies to supervision of strategy develop-
ensure prioritisation of policy ments.
programmes and financial resources.
Information System of Agricultural Cooperatives
Food Market Prices Development Agency
Creation of Information System of
Food Market Prices under MEPA to Establishment of Agricultural Cooper-
help farmers keep up with estab- atives Development Agency (ACDA),
lished market trends. as a dedicated structure under MEPA
to promote the development of
cooperatives, provide them with
consultancy services, coordinate
state programmes to support cooper-
Monitoring and Evaluation System atives, grant cooperatives status and
monitor their performance.
Development of Monitoring and
Evaluation to better plan new
programmes, activities and budgets.
13Key Achivements:
Institutional Enhancement and
Capacity Building
Education and Research
Institutions Agriculture Census
Capacity Building for agriculture-re- In 2014, first quality Agriculture
lated Education and Research Institu- Census was carried out in Georgia
tions, aiming at improved quality of with EU support and FAO technical
vocational educational training (VET), assistance, and in cooperation with
university education and research Geostat and the Ministry of Environ-
within the food and agricultural mental Protection and Agriculture.
sector. Georgia showed real, primary data
from the agriculture sector for the
The project was implemented by the first time by means of a first quality
University of Limerick (Ireland), in Agricultural Census carried out across
conjunction with the Rural and the country.
Agricultural Policy and Development
Institute (RAPDI) and the Agricultural Deploying a professional and proven
University of Georgia. European methodology, the agricul-
ture data today provides a far more
Under this capacity building work, representative and realistic image
vocational training, education and and precise figures as a means to
research in Georgian agriculture improving more effective policy and
underwent rigorous reviews strategy development across the
ultimately leading to the develop- sector.
ment of special curricula that now
help shape the system in terms of
retraining, both theoretically and
practically.
14ENPARD Spotlight
Results in research
institutions
In Telavi, the ENPARD project building capacity of agriculture-related
academic and research institutions, ensured an increase in the
number of applicants (120 for 50 available places) and only the
Faculty of Agriculture saw an increase in applications. The research
results already demonstrate immediate impact.
In Samtskhe-Javakheti, increased numbers of farmers began
growing onions and therefore increasing their output. Notably in
this context, two demonstration plots for onions were supported by
the UNDP.
In Batumi, the research convinced the Ministry of Agriculture of Ajara
that it is important to support the university to extend the value
chain analysis to other crops.
15Piloting a European Model of
Rural Development
The key to boosting employment and improving living conditions in rural areas,
is diversifying the economy and moving away from an over-reliance on agricul-
ture. Under ENPARD I, the EU began working with relevant ministries, civil society
and local communities to promote lasting rural development in a variety of ways.
Key Achivements:
A National Strategy for New Economic Opportunities
Rural Development 2017-2020 in Rural Areas
At the central level, ENPARD I provided In tandem with the new strategy of rural
technical assistance that supports the development, ENPARD I launched the pilot
development and implementation of a activities with the involvement of civil
National Strategy for Rural Development. society and international experts – to
The strategy is founded on three core support the rural development process in
axes: Georgia.
Competitive agriculture
The sustainable management of natural Three pilot rural development projects
. resources were implemented in Borjomi, Lagodekhi
and Kazbegi to strengthen non-agricultur-
A diversified local economy.
al sectors such as eco-tourism, manufac-
turing, and services, and to create a
It is also based on the EU LEADER
vibrant labour market in rural areas,
approach, which is currently already
amounting to half of Georgia’s population.
underway across twelve Georgian munici-
palities under ENPARD I, II and III grant
components. In line with the LEADER process, first Local
Action Groups (LAG) were created in these
What is LEADER? - The approach considers pilot municipalities to test the effective-
each rural area distinct and maintains that ness of the model in the Georgian context.
the unique traits of a region are most ENPARD delivered European expertise on
effectively understood by its own inhabit- the identification of local problems, in
ants. It adopts a “bottom-up” approach developing strategies for addressing those
where Local Action Groups (LAGs) mobi- problems, and provided EU grants to fund
lise communities at the local level. Once local development initiatives.
the needs have been identified, the
LEADER process moves on toward financ-
ing promising project ideas.
16ENPARD Spotlight
Lagodekhi LAG
Local Action Group (LAG) Lagodekhi is an independent platform
to stimulate the development of Lagodekhi municipality. Follow-
ing the EU’s LEADER model for rural development, the LAG
combines more than 100 representatives from all 15 municipali-
ties and represents citizens from the private sector, civil society
and local authorities, including the head of the municipal board.
One of the key priority directions of Lagodekhi LAG is agricultural
development, namely support to agricultural competitiveness,
also environmental protection, improvement of rural livelihood
and services. Through economic activities the LAG facilitates the
establishment of diversified employment opportunities in the
municipal villages and encourages economic empowerment of
rural population.
Key Figures:
With the funding from EU under the ENPARD program, Lagodekhi LAG has
supported 64 rural development initiatives valued at GEL 2,482,100 to
meet the key priorities of the strategy. In total more than 30,000 rural
citizens benefited through the direct or indirect impact of the economic
and social initiatives incubated within the rural development project.
17ENPARD Spotlight
ENPARD Terrace
The best place to relax in
Lagodekhi protected areas
“The EU support is prestigious
for us. The EU has launched a
great campaign in order to
increase the awareness of the
rural development”, - Valeri
Kereselidze, the founder of the
Terrace
A hotel in the forest – ‘Wald Hotel Lagodekhi’ is the only space with a
natural landscape in the diverse Lagodekhi Protected Areas, where
people have the opportunity to enjoy the vacation in the nature.
Valeri Kereselidze has been thinking about establishing the tourist facility
with years of savings. In August 2016, Valeri Kereselidze and the Lago-
dekhi Protected Area signed the lease agreement which emphasized
arrangement of cafeteria and a hotel. In order to make the hotel opera-
tional it was necessary to carry out the repair works and to ensure the
proper equipment.
Soon Valeri learnt about the EU’s ENPARD program from a member of the
Lagodekhi Local Action Group who was visiting his hotel. Following the
announcement of grant competition by CARE, the founder of the hotel
presented two initiatives – to build a terrace as well as a pergola. After
passing the standard process, both initiatives were approved and Valeri
started a new development phase.
18ENPARD Spotlight
“With EU support, we have created the ENPARD terrace that has become a
favourite place for many of the visitors to Lagodekhi Protected Areas. I would
have definitely arranged the terrace at the hotel, but it would have taken time,
years of savings. Together with EU, I could start popularization of my own
business, as well as Lagodekhi Protected Areas”, Valeri says.
Currently, there are nine rooms available at the Wald Hotel Lagodekhi, which
provide beds for 30 guests at the same time. 9 people are permanently
employed in the hotel, but often the number of hotel staff increases up to 15
people. The initiative also supports local farmers through including their
production into the value chain.
Valeri Kereselidze’s commitment greatly influenced the local population.
There were only 8 guesthouses at the time when Wald Hotel Lagodekhi
opened, while today their number exceeds 20. Local people saw that it was
necessary to create an infrastructure, whether it would be a wine cellar or a
bakery, where they would be able to host guests.
Key Figures:
Lagodekhi Protected Areas hosted 20,000 visitors in 2016, while in 2018 the
number of visitors reached 50,000.
19EU assistance under
ENPARD I
2013-2017
TOTAL budget: € 52 million
Budget support
€ 24.5 million
Grants assistance
€24.5m € 18.7 million
€52m €18.7m
Visibility
€ 0.4 million €0.4m
€0.6m
€7.8m
Audit, monitoring
and evaluation
€ 0.6 million Technical cooperation
€ 7.8 million
20ENPARD II (2016-2020)
Building on Strong Foundation
Building on the backing of the programme’s first phase,
ENPARD II extended its support to facilitate the integra-
tion of the agriculture sector specifically in terms of:
Improving agricultural competitiveness
Developing Food safety, sanitary and phyto-sanitary
standards
Introducing Rural development policies and reforms
in Georgia
21Improving Agriculture
During the second phase of the programme, the EU continued its support to the Ministry of
Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia in the context of the Strategy of
Agricultural Development of Georgia 2015-2020 implementation. The programme further-
more provided technical assistance and expertise to continue developing the country’s
Agricultural Extension System and respective Strategy.
ENPARD II also provided technical support and training to the Ministry assisting it toward
the creation of a farm registry, and the implementation of a seed certification process and
climate-resilient agricultural practices.
In the form of direct budget support, ENPARD II also continued to encourage the creation
and sustainability of business-oriented farmer cooperatives in Georgia.
Key Achivements:
Improvement of the Improvement of the agriculture
organisational structure, human analytical capacity and database
resources management and management
training systems of the MEPA
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis
Over 400 staff trained to better plan Tool – an electronic system that
new programmes, activities and budg- provides an advanced technical
ets in the following areas: solution for the dissemination and
analysis of market price information. In
Value chain analysis parallel to the policymaking,
Database creation and up-to-date statistics on local food
management prices will help rural families and
farmers’ associations to ensure that
Agricultural statistics
their production is in line with market
Yield prognosis systems trends, and to help them lead to the
Geographic information new economic opportunities.
systems
Farm registry system – A IT software
Post-harvest handling
programme rolled-out to gauge
Trade regulations accurate data on farmers’ agricultural
English languages assets toward further developing and
IT topics improving Georgian Agriculture.
22Boosting food safety standards
Food safety and sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures have long been neglected in
the country. Yet, during the negotiations of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, the
issue reappeared on the legislative agenda – resulting in the core assumption that Georgia
can only take full advantage of the free trade opportunities with the EU, if it converges,
adopts and participates with and to EU standards.
Key Achivements:
Improved SPS, food safety and
food quality standards and proce-
dures for inspection and control:
Capacity building of National
Food Agency (NFA) created in
2012 under the Ministry of Upgrading of laboratory capac-
Environmental Protection and ities and food safety/SPS stand-
Agriculture of Georgia and tasked ards for inspection and control.
with control and inspection of
food safety and SPS. Strengthening of capacities for
border inspection, control and
Adoption and enforcement of the upgrading of standards for
Code on Food and Feed Safety, food import/export monitor-
Veterinary and Plant Protection ing.
with strict regulation on vaccina-
tion and pesticide usage. Adoption of improved food
safety/quality schemes by
farmers.
23ENPARD Spotlight
Reported FS standards violations
2015 2018
over 5,000
550 cases reported
cases reported =
increased credibility
Number of products inspected
by NFA
2012 2017
less than 400 45,000 inspected
=
inspected effective responding
mechanism
Anthrax was one of the most prevalent animal
diseases that proved fatal to consumers. Via the
deployment of an effective veterinary protec-
tion system over last 12 month, zero cases have
been reported on the Anthrax.
* Figures are provided by National Food Agency of Georgia
24Promoting Rural Development
A showcase of how successful the implementation of the pilot rural development
projects across three municipalities were, induced an ENPARD II top-up during 2017
- whilst adding Borjomi, Lagodekhi and Kazbegi to the grant, furthermore, the
LEADER model was expanded to five new municipalities, including Dedoplistskaro,
Akhalkalaki, Tetritskaro, Keda and Khulo during that time.
ENPARD II has continued to focus on rural development for creating new economic
opportunities for the rural population.
Despite primarily targeting rural and mountainous areas, the programme also has
helped non-farmers via various formats, specifically through:
Continual financial assistance and technical support
Fostering the creation of micro, small and medium enterprises
Helping potential entrepreneurs to identify development ideas
Providing expertise to design projects, with thorough budgeting and
business plan
This kind of help improves and upgrades rural services that are oftentimes inade-
quate, hamper economic development and contribute to rural poverty.
The rural development component of the programme benefits the whole of Geor-
gia, while its concrete rural development actions are implemented in selected
municipalities of the country. LEADER projects were extended to eight municipali-
ties under ENPARD II (See map).
Key Fact:
The programme also supports rural development activities in the breaka-
way region of Abkhazia, in line with the EU’s principles of non-recognition
and engagement. Importantly, ENPARD actively promotes the core EU
principles of gender equality, environmental sustainability, as well as the
fight against climate change.
25MAIN PRIORITY AREAS FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT:
Agriculture and value chains
Tourism and related services
Social and municipal infrastructure
Education, sports and culture
Environment protection
Natural resources management
Women, youth and vulnerable groups
Dedoplistskaro LAG
4,388,782
Kazbegi LAG 54 Initiatives
2,331,678
112 Initiatives
Lagodekhi LAG
2,482,100
Mtskheta-
64 Initiatives
mtianeti
Keda LAG
1,180,242
46 Initiatives Kakheti
Adjara
Samtske- Kvemo
javakheti Kartli
Khulo LAG
2,862,480
71 Initiatives
Borjomi LAG
Akhalkalaki LAG 2,020,841
2,522,022 50 Initiatives
42 Initiatives Tetritskaro LAG
5,518,494
82 Initiatives
26STRUCTURE OF EU-SUPPORTED LAGs:
Lagodekhi LAG
130 MEMBERS
PUBLIC 35 %
Kazbegi LAG
PRIVATE 36 %
146 MEMBERS
NGO 29 %
10 % PUBLIC
45 % PRIVATE
Borjomi LAG
45 % NGO
28 MEMBERS
PUBLIC 36 %
PRIVATE 35 % Akhalkalaki LAG
NGO 29 % 30 MEMBERS
46 % PUBLIC
24 % PRIVATE
Women 30% NGO
Yo1u8%
40%
th
60%
M en
Tetritskaro LAG
Dedoplistskaro LAG 89 MEMBERS
91 MEMBERS 38 % PUBLIC
PUBLIC 15 % 21 % PRIVATE
PRIVATE 26 % 41 % NGO
NGO 59 %
Khulo LAG
Keda LAG 69 MEMBERS
322 MEMBERS 22 % PUBLIC
PUBLIC 32 % 30 % PRIVATE
PRIVATE 54 % 48 % NGO
NGO 14 %
27ENPARD Spotlight
Tetritskaro Local Action Group
Tertitskaro’s LAG converges the civil, private
and public sectors helping stimulate the local
development of the Tetritskaro municipality
through a balanced, participative and inclu-
sive local development strategy. Tetritskaro
LAG, with a membership of about 100 Tetrit-
skaro inhabitants, was created in August 2017
in the framework of the EU’s LEADER approach.
Elected at 27 years old, Nino Tikurishvili is the
Executive Director of the Tetritskaro LAG.
The LAG combines all 20 communities, including national and religious minorities as
well as IDPs and eco-migrants residing in the Tetritskaro municipality, out of which 40%
are women and around 30% are young people.
Between February – March 2018, Tetritskaro LAG members congregated to define the
Local Development Strategy implementing action plan. They also developed strategy,
monitoring and evaluation indicators, whilst community consultation processes took
place. LAG members held 20 meetings with Tetritskaro communities and introduced
the draft version of the strategy. Based on feedback from its many communities, the
Tetritskaro Development Strategy was officially validated during a LAG general meet-
ing, in March 2018. The key priorities of the strategy support the development of rural
tourism, the modernisation of agricultural and diversified initiatives, environmental
protection, the management of natural resources and disaster risk reduction, and the
rehabilitation of the rural infrastructure.
“The main potential of the region lies in its tourism sector.
Tetritskaro is dotted with noteworthy spots and beautiful
nature, and very few people are actually aware of them.
Awareness is notably low amid both foreign as well as local
Georgian tourists. In parallel with service and infrastructure
development, PR, awareness, recognition and image are of
strategic value and importance. Creating entertainment and
holiday spots and facilities will undoubtedly attract not only
tourists from abroad, but also bring many levels of diversity
into the lives of local people”,- says Nino Tikurishvili, LAG
Director.
28ENPARD Spotlight
Rope Adventure Park
EU Supported
Rural Development
Initiative in Tetritskaro
The EU-supported Rope Adventure Attraction is located at the Algeti National
Park, in Manglisi, Tetritskaro Municipality. The 225-metre long attraction is
suspended at different heights from the ground and combines barriers of ropes,
bridges, nets and beams. The park has 2 routes: one designed for adoles-
cents/teenagers and another that caters for family activities.
The initiative was among those EU-funded projects that has been developed and
implemented to meet the Tetritskaro strategy goals developed by LAG.
“The Rope Adventure Park is set to bring financial benefits to the
Algeti National Park in turn helping increase its attractiveness,
thereby offering more and better benefits to local residents.
Because the Park’s visitors rely on food, accommodation, trans-
portation and guiding services, local residents are ideally geared
toward providing these services. The project is also on course to
helping develop ecotourism in reserved territories amounting to
all sorts of advantages to locals.” – says Avtandil Mchedlidze,
Director of the Administration of Algeti National Park, project
implementer.
The amount of the EU grant amounts to
GEL 150,000 (including GEL 100,000 of
co-funding). In 2018, approximately
88,000 people visited Algeti National
Park. A modest forecast recently showed
that the Rope Adventure Park is set to
boost the number of visitors to Alegeti
National Park, by an impressive 40%.
29EU assistance under
ENPARD II
2016-2019
TOTAL budget: € 50 million
Budget support
€ 27 million Grants assistance
€27m € 18 million
€50m €18m
Visibility
€0.4m
€ 0.4 million
€0.6m
€4m
Audit, monitoring
and evaluation
€ 0.6 million Technical cooperation
€ 4 million
30ENPARD III (2018-2022)
Consolidating Reforms in Agriculture
and Rural Development
The strategic goal of ENPARD III, in line with priorities of the
National Strategy for Rural Development 2017-2020, features:
The diversification of rural economic activities
The growth of tourism
The sustainable development of natural resources
The improvement of the quality of life in rural areas
Notably an Inter-Ministerial Working Group was created to help
coordinate the adoption of the National Strategy of Agriculture
and Rural Development of Georgia 2021-2027.
31Key Achivements:
Enhancing the competitiveness of the agriculture sector with
policy implementation support to the Ministry of Environmen-
tal Protection and Agriculture
Under ENPARD III, the government As part of the sectoral institutional
adopted the National Strategy of reform, the Agricultural and Rural
Agriculture and Rural Development Development Agency (ARDA) came
of Georgia 2021-2027. The new into being. ARDA’s role is to manage
strategy will focus on lessons the formation of new cooperatives
learned and address gaps. Among and new projects in the fields of
the key strategic priorities are Geor- agriculture and rural development to
gia’s institutional approximation to efficiently support farmers and coop-
the European Union, inclusive rural eratives.
development and climate smart
agriculture.
Transforming the existing informa-
tion and consultation centres into a
modern extension service focused
Based on the earlier established on real needs of farmers;
Information and Consultation
Centers, Agricultural Extension Introducing a new Demonstration
System was developed and a Chain Network initiative, one of the
revised Agricultural Extension mechanisms for teaching and
Strategy for Georgia 2018-2020 was consulting farmers;
adopted.
Establishing the unification of
The primary goal of the strategy is private and public demo plots in
to improve the competitiveness of Georgia.
the Georgian agricultural sector by
delivering quality and cost-efficient Racha-Lechkhumi and Guria are
advisory services to the farmers by: the two pilot regions circa the
implementation of the Agricultural
Extension Strategy for Georgia
2018-2020.
32Key Achivements:
Improving employment and Improving the environment,
living conditions in rural sustainable management of
areas by: natural resources and
climate action by:
Supporting the Government of
Within the ENPARD Programme
Georgia and the Government of
strategy has been developed to
Ajara AR in implementing rural
intensify the work on climate-smart
development policy to ultimately
agriculture at different levels as a
diversify economic activities.
mean to reduce the impact of
climate change in Georgia.
Improving employment and services
across the different regions in Geor-
ENPARD with technical support of
gia, including Adjara and Abkhazia.
FAO has introduced the actions to
mainstream climate smart agricul-
ture in the country focusing on land
Four new grant projects, which intro-
use and planning, implementing
duce the European LEADER
good agricultural practices for soil,
approach to rural development were
water and crop management,
launched under ENPARD III in the
reducing agricultural green gas
municipalities of Tsalka, Akhmeta,
emissions and establishing efficient
Tskaltubo and Mestia. These projects
agro-meteorological services.
follow the earlier EU-supported rural
development actions under ENPARD
I and II in other eight municipalities
of Georgia.
33ENPARD Spotlight
David and Valentina Kapanadze are of the
first farmers to have been active in
setting-up the eggplant production demo
plot in Lagodekhi. This is a prime example
of those implemented within the ENPARD
programme, from the chain of the demo
plots promoting climate smart agriculture.
Kapanadze`s Demo plot adheres to the
vegetable plot arranging methods and
techniques that are designed to withstand
drought, heavy rain and pests that arise as
consequences of climate change.
“We decided to implement all knowledge and expertise
shared with us from European experts. Using proper drip
irrigation and integrated pest management methods,
resulted in a complete eggplant field that we can claim,
today, bears wonderful harvests. Heavy village rain has
unfortunately destroyed most of our neighbours’ crops,
whilst our plot has been built to resist, survive and thrive
in all kinds of weather and pests”, - says Valentina
Kapanadze, demo plot farmer from Lagodekhi.
The demo plot is the part of the ENPARD III
project, implementing by FAO, that develops
and improves agricultural extension services
in Georgia. The project intends to improve the
competitiveness of the agriculture sector in
Georgia by delivering quality advisory servic-
es to farmers and upgrades the capacities of
existing ICCs as climate smart agriculture-re-
sistant ones. There are different types of
potatos, wheat, maize, cucumber, eggplant
and raspberry plots, that focus on the munici-
palities of Dedoplistskaro, Akhalkalaki, Kazbe-
gi and Lagodekhi.
34EU assistance under
ENPARD III
2018-2022
TOTAL budget: € 77.5 million
Budget support
Technical cooperation
€ 44.5 million
€ 22 million
€44.5m
Visibility
€77.5m €22m
€ 0.4 million €0.4m
€0.6m
€10m
Audit, monitoring
and evaluation
€ 0.6 million
Grants assistance
€ 10 million
35ENPARD IV (2020-2024)
Enhancing Standards, Deepening Exports
and Improving Rural Livelihood
The fourth phase of ENPARD is
envisioned to be launched at the end of
2020. It will provide extended assistance
in the food safety and SPS sector to
enhance consumer protection for
citizens of Georgia and to promote
exports of Georgian products to EU
Member States. ENPARD IV will build on
the achievements of the Comprehensive
Institution Building (CIB) programme and
of previous ENPARD phases. It will
provide further support to the National In addition, ENPARD IV will further support
Food Agency (NFA) for improved inspec- rural development and will improve living
tion and control systems and for continu- conditions for a larger proportion of the
ation of the legal approximation process rural population in Georgia, rendering the
including enforcement of newly adopted rural development sector more dynamic
regulations. It will also support food and effectively contributing to Georgia’s
business operators in their efforts to economic and social development.
adapt to the sectoral reforms. ENPARD IV will improve the economic and
social integration of vulnerable house-
holds in disadvantaged rural regions of
Georgia, including eco-migrants, conflict
affected people, ethnic minorities, Geor-
gian returnees and migrants. The action
will continue to enhance civic participation
in the regions of Georgia through
increased civil society involvement in local
decision-making processes and will contin-
ue to actively promote and encourage
participation of youth and women, noting
the specific needs and constraints of these
groups.
36ENPARD Communication Unit
ENPARD Communications Unit was established in 2012 with the aim
to raise awareness of the EU support to and impact on agriculture
and rural development in Georgia. Throughout these years, our
team has been successful in designing diverse and flexible commu-
nication activities, also in developing effective coordination and
monitoring schemes that have helped to streamline the operation
of large number of EU-funded ENPARD projects, stakeholders and
partners. These actions, coupled with diverse range of PR initiatives
and broad national and regional media coverage, have facilitated
increasing visibility of EU support to agriculture and rural develop-
ment in Georgia.
Tamar Khuntsaria
Team Leader, ENPARD Communication Unit
As a reporter of Agricultural Journalism, ENPARD has broadened my
understanding and knowledge in modernized European approach-
es. As a subscriber of the ENPARD website, I keep myself updated on
the current ENPARD achievement, new strategies and grant oppor-
tunities. My direct audience include farmers, food producers and
customers and it is crucial for them to showcase the results
achieved through EU standards.
Demetre Ergemlidze
Reporter, Georgian Public Broadcaster
We unite the regional broadcasters. People living in rural areas are
mainly interested in the news happening at their area. ENPARD
Communications Unit produces a number of valuable videos and
info graphics that explains the complicated strategic approaches in a
simple way and tells the success stories of the ordinary rural people.
We, as partner of ECU use the video and photo resources accumulat-
ed on the platform for further dissemination and broadcast to the
wider audience, that might not have access to the internet.
Natia Kuprashvili
Director of Alliance of Regional BroadcastersENPARD Communication Unit
62 Chavchavadze Ave., App. 5
0165 Tbilisi, Georgia
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